Maryknoll, NY: Sister Theresia Elizabeth Braun died on January 16, 2025 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 69 years.

On December 10, 1931, Theresia Elizabeth Braun was born in St. Gallen-Rossruti, Switzerland to Louise Frafel Braun and Paul Braun.  She had four brothers and three sisters; her brother Joseph who lives in Switzerland, and her niece, survive her.

From 1943-1946, Sister Bernadette attended St. Catherine High School in Switzerland.   She received a business degree from the KJM Berufsdule, in Wilmette in 1950.   She attended Sacred Heart College for Women in Chun Cheon, Korea where she received a B.S. in Social Work in 1972.  At the completion of her studies, she was assigned to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., where she completed her Masters degree in Social Work in 1975.

She entered the Maryknoll Sisters at Valley Park, MO on December 30, 1956, from her St. Jerome Parish, Milwaukee, WI.  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on August 22, 1959, at Valley Park, MO, and her Final Vows on August 22, 1965, in Korea.

In 1960, she received her first mission assignment to South Korea. Here she worked at the Maryknoll Hospital in Pusan in the maintenance department.  Returning to Korea, she worked with Holt Children’s Service, Seoul, as the International Adoption Case Supervisor for five years.  In 1980, she moved to Kwangju, Korea where she was a Counselor at the St. John of God Psychiatric Clinic for seven years.  Her final assignment in Korea was to three Islands in the South Sea, off the southwest coast of Mokpo, Korea, doing Pastoral Ministry, village Bible study, home visiting, and gardening.

From 2000 to 2002, Sister Bernie was in Tansen, Nepal, as Social Service Director at the United Mission to Nepal Hospital.

In 2002, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY due to health issues.  In 2003, she returned once again to Korea and worked at the St. Joseph Clinic for the homeless in Seoul until 2009.

She retired in 2009 and joined the community in Monrovia, CA where she lived until 2018, when she decided to join the Maryknoll Center Chi Rho Community. When she needed more assistance meeting her health needs, she requested a transfer to Eden Community in 2020.  She was a member of the Eden Community until her death on January 16, 2025.

Sister Bernie was an avid student, speaking German, French, Korean, and Nepali, in addition to English. She was so quiet, listened more than spoke and had great energy, determination, and commitment to whatever was asked of her.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Bernadette Braun on February 5, 2025, at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on February 6, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.